ENGLISH SPEAKERS
The English language is full of words of Nordic origin. Using ten words with roots in Norse as its starting point, ENGLISH SPEAKERS examines the English language through sound, music, speech, linguistics and history. It is a dizzying journey filled with etymological pop, verbal inflection r&b, breathing beats and choral arrangements about swear words. An exploration of language, which puts your understanding of language to the test.
Anyone can speak English. But what would English say if it could tell its own story?
ENGLISH SPEAKERS is a soundscape performed by nine speakers in circle formation. Take your seat in a darkened room and become immersed in Sara Hamming’s sound choreography. You will be listening to English: a language and a protagonist, all in one voice. What is this strange speech flowing from the mouth of English – the visionary song of a völva or the incoherent ravings of a megalomaniac matriarch on the brink of a breakdown? And who is this chorus of voices trying to make themselves heard and take part in her narrative?
Duration: 70 min
THE COMPANY: Moribund
Moribund produces performances occupied with language in the electric space between past and present.
INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY
Moribund is planning to tour widely internationally to namely festivals and venues in the Nordic countries and in the UK, reaching theatre/performance, music and literature audiences with this cross disciplinary production. Their performance can be comprehended by everyone with a basic knowledge of English.
PITCHING AT CPH STAGE INTERNATIONAL DAYS :
Pitching on digital platform: 3. June 9.00am – 10.30am CET – see time in your timezone
Pitching in-person at Betty Nansen/Edison scenen: 3. June 11.30am – 01.00pm CET
LANGUAGE
English
AGE TARGET
+17
CONTACT PERSON
Mary Paterson, mail@moribund.dk, +44 (0) 7956 964 683 / +45 28 92 25 84
CREDITS
SHOW:
Narrator: Sue Hansen-Styles
Speaking voices: Alexandra Jespersen, David Bateson, Emilia Gasiorek, Jonathan Bonnici, Linda Elvira, Malte Joe Frid-Nielsen, Ragna Solbergnes
Singing voices: Anja Jacobsen, Kristoffer Jessen, Lil Lacy, Lucy Love and Simon Rønne Rischel
Manuscript and sound choreography: Sara Hamming
Music composition: Anja Jacobsen, Lil Lacy
Dramaturgy: Tanja Diers
Production management: Ragna Solbergnes
Historical language consultant: Seán Vrieland
Surround mix, design and mastering: Cato Langnes
Sound technician: Ingvild Skandsen
Assisting sound technician: Tanya Theo Johansson
English Speakers is a Moribund production.
English Speakers is supported by The Danish Arts Council, The Nordic Culture Fund, Nordic Culture Point, The Oticon/William Demant Foundation, The AP Møller Foundation
VIDEO:
Trailer Video: Søren Meisner
Filmed and Edited by: Søren Meisner
Sound: Søren Knud Christensen
Producer: Karen Toftegaard
Production manager: Ditte Drehn
Producer’s assistant: Lucie Auréjac
Light design: Clementine Waldelius
Light programming: Filip Vilhelmson
PR: Anna Ullman
PR-texts: Anna Ullman and Solveig Daugaard
Graphic design: Pulsk Ravn
Producer in the UK: Mary Paterson
Fundraiser: Malene Engelund
Documentation and video trailer: Søren Meisner
Booklet editor: Anna Ullman
Texts for booklet: Anna Ullman, Mary Paterson, Solveig Daugaard and Seán Vrieland
Podcast production: Anne Neimann Clement
Co-producers: Notam – Norwegian centre for technology, art and music,Inter Arts Center at the University of Lund in Malmö
Pitch curated and produced by CPH STAGE.
Pitch is prepared and presented in collaboration with The Development Platform for Performing Arts and Supported by The Danish Arts Foundation